Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Carisbrooke Surgery on 10 November 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.

• Data from the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) showed patient outcomes were at or above average compared to the national average particularly for patients with severe and enduring mental health problems.

• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Results from the national GP patient survey in 2014/2015 showed the practice was above average for its satisfaction scores on consultations with GPs and nurses. For example 97% of patients who responded said the GP was good at listening to them compared to the national average of 89% and 95% of patients who responded said the last nurse they spoke to was good at treating them with care and concern compared to the national average of 91%.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The area where the provider should make improvement is:

• Ensure pre-employment checks are undertaken in accordance with the practice’s recruitment policy.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice